Identification of a pyrone-type species as the active site for the oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

A bicyclic pyrone-type species on oxygen-doped carbon catalysts was identified as the active site for the oxygen reduction reaction in acidic solution. It has much higher activity than that of typical nitrogen-doped carbon catalysts (0.219 e s⁻¹ site⁻¹vs. 0.021–0.088 e s⁻¹ site⁻¹ at 0.6 V_RHE). The ortho-carbon atom in the carbonyl ring of the pyrone-type species was revealed as the reactive site by theoretical calculations.